Self-Assembly of Nanoparticle and Block Polymer Electrolytes

Electrolytes used in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are mixtures of lithium salts and alkyl carbonate solvents. The high ionic conductivity of these electrolytes is well-suited for several applications including cellphones and laptops. Unfortunately, these electrolytes are flammable and this limits our ability to use lithium batteries in large devices like electric vehicles. Solid block copolymer electrolytes are inherently less flammable and thus better suited for large scale applications.¹ The ionic conductivity of block copolymer electrolytes is governed by the tortuosity of the conductive pathways, which is related to the morphology of block copolymers.^2,3 Therefore, the ionic conductivity can be controlled by tuning the morphology. One approach consists in the addition of nanoparticles to block copolymer electrolytes. The morphology of these systems depends on the arrangement and the location of the nanoparticles in the block copolymer.⁴

Here, we describe the effect of the addition of functionalized silsesquioxane nanoparticles on the morphology and electrochemical properties of polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene oxide) diblock copolymer electrolytes.

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[1] Parker, J. M.; Wright, P.V. Polymer 1973, 14, 589.

[2] Singh, M.; Odusanya, O.; Wilmes, G. M.; Gomez, E. D.; Patel, A. J.; Chen, V. L.; Park, M. J.; Eitouni, H. B.; Fragouli, P.; Iatrou, H.; Hadjichristidis, N.; Balsara, N. P. Macromolecules 2007, 40, 4578.

[3] Hallinan, D. T.; Balsara, N. P. Annu. Rev. Mater. Res. 2013, 43, 503.

[4] Warren, S. C.; DiSalvo, F. J.; Wiesner, U. B. Nat. Mater. 2007, 6, 156.